Health

Media playback is unsupported on your device Media captionSarah Dean was told she was not eligible for IVF on the NHS as her husband has children from a previous relationship The parents of the world’s first IVF baby – born 40 years ago next week – would not have got the procedure on the NHS […]

Image copyright Getty Images Cancer patients who use alternative therapies may be more likely to shun conventional treatments and risk their chances of survival, research suggests. A study of 1,290 patients in the US found people who received such therapies often refused life-saving care such as chemotherapy or surgery. Fewer of them survived five years […]

Image copyright Getty Images A “dangerous complacency” in the response to the global HIV pandemic is risking a resurgence of the disease, according to a report. Experts said a stalling of HIV funding in recent years was endangering efforts to control the illness. As things stand, the world is no longer on course to end […]

Image caption The parents of Billy Caldwell and Alfie Dingley want the boys to be able to access cannabis oil legally to control their seizures Doctors in the UK should have the option to prescribe cannabis-derived medicinal products to patients with certain medical conditions, drugs experts have advised the government. The Advisory Council on the […]

Media playback is unsupported on your device Media captionBBC Breakfast’s Tim Muffett goes shopping with Joanne Tang and her son Oscar, who has autism Supermarket chain Morrisons has introduced a weekly “quieter hour” for autistic shoppers who struggle with music and noise. Its 439 UK stores will dim lights, turn music off, avoid using the […]

Image copyright Getty Images Cardiac arrest patients who are treated with adrenaline are significantly more likely to have severe brain damage if they survive, a new study has found. Adrenaline is routinely used as a last resort when other treatments fail. A study of 8,000 patients found that while it slightly increased the chances of […]

Image copyright Getty Images The regulator of heath care services in England is calling for a limit on how long it takes to report the results of patients’ x-rays and scans. The Care Quality Commission’s review of radiology practices found that the process could vary from one hour to two working days in hospital A&Es. […]

Image copyright Getty Images Under-pressure NHS services in England are spending over £1bn a year buying care from outside the NHS because they are unable to keep up with demand. The bill is being racked up by hospitals, ambulances and mental health trusts, data obtained by the BBC shows. NHS managers said money was being […]

Image copyright Getty ImagesImage caption Children and adults may be missing out on educational support if there are delays Children and adults in England can face a wait of more than two years for an autism assessment, a Freedom of Information request has revealed. National guidelines state that the process of diagnosis should start within three […]

Image copyright Getty ImagesImage caption England tackled Sweden in their World Cup quarter-final Headed goals by Harry Kane and Harry Maguire were among those which propelled England to their best World Cup performance since 1990. But can repetitive heading cause damage to the brain and lead to long-term health problems? A new study of 300 […]

Image caption Surgeons say the only curative treatment for groin hernia is surgery Groin hernia patients are having to “prove their pain” and show they have complications to get surgery, the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) has said. In Kent and Medway, patients are having to show their hernia has grown larger or become “incarcerated” […]

Image copyright Getty Images Parents are being warned about potentially toxic levels of chemicals in slime toys popular with children. The consumer group Which? tested 11 of the most popular products on the market and found eight of them had above the recommended levels of boron. The chemical is found in borax, a common ingredient […]